The albums we went M.A.A.D. about

Craig Mathieson

Frank Ocean won over Jay-Z and Kayne West long ago but it was his debut studio album that had the masses talking in 2012.

IF A person had somehow lived a life lacklustre enough to go without contemporary music in 2012, and wanted to make amends in the final week of the year, one could make a more than fair start with the 21 records that make up EG's best albums of the year. As a crash course in some of the finest sounds released for the year, the list - compiled from the votes of Fairfax Media editors and music contributors - reflects an eclectic, unpredictable 12 months.

The breadth is welcome: the literate, engaging compositions of Melbourne's Oh Mercy, framed by a newly expressive sound on their third album, Deep Heat, sit alongside the transformative hip-hop of Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, which goes back to the future by connecting autobiographical tissue to the sinew of 1990s US-west-coast beats. Meanwhile, the mythic, roots-influenced rock of Bruce Springsteen's American requiem Wrecking Ball is literally tied with the blissfully evocative electro-pop of Canadian prodigy Grimes and her breakthrough album, Visions.

At the peak - by a clear margin, it should be noted - was Channel Orange, the debut studio album from American R&B singer Frank Ocean, previously a hugely promising voice on mix tapes, Odd Future records and singing hooks for Jay-Z and Kanye West. The album was released in July and even now you can get lost in the struggle between the spiritual and the sexual, the melancholic tales of privilege left unchecked, and the idiosyncratic arrangements that took in sombre hip-hop, soulful melodies and studio detritus.

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange.

Ocean is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Los Angeles via New Orleans, while Kevin Parker, the affable creator of Tame Impala's cavernous remake of retro rock, is a 26-year-old from Perth via the sounds in his head, but on their respective albums, Channel Orange and Lonerism, both grapple with how they relate to the world. The two find something new in terrain long scoured by musicians, even as Parker explores obliteration through his booming soundscapes and Ocean favours confessions alternately playful and despairing.

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But youth wasn't alone in exceeding expectations. Mac Rebennack jnr, better known as the New Orleans pianist and songwriter Dr John, answered his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - often a signpost for stagnation and nostalgia tours - by cutting the urgent, sometimes churning Locked Down. Produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, it was influenced by Ethiopian jazz and personal recrimination, and is as crystal clear a statement as Neil Young's epic reunion with Crazy Horse on Psychedelic Pill and the Dirty Three's new seismograph, Towards the

Low Sun.

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D City.

So if the list has both the ragged experience and calm vitality of local denizen Spencer P. Jones' collaboration with old hands and new on a self-titled independent release and the stylised high drama and adolescent torment of Lana Del Rey's big-budget Born to Die, what does it lack?

Naturally, pop acts are underrepresented.

Nearly everyone can name that Carly Rae Jepsen single, hardly anyone can name that Carly Rae Jepsen album. Beyond that, however, alternative rock didn't turn up a new standard-bearer in 2012.

There was no Arcade Fire, no MGMT, no Vampire Weekend - and that was a welcome development. Each of those acts didn't just enjoy strong notices and full houses in previous years, they were bluntly and disproportionately influential, leaving entire waves of lesser acts in their wake.

Six of these 21 artists are Australian, and half of those - Oh Mercy, Spencer P. Jones and the Nothing Butts, and Suzannah Espie - are from Melbourne, providing a fair account of a year when creative energy among the Melbourne band scene turned inwards.

The most exciting thing about EG's albums of 2012 is that it's not purely a retrospective exercise. As well as the records, there's the promise of many of these acts touring in 2013. Bruce Springsteen, with the E Street Band, plays Melbourne in March, while Sarah Blasko, backed by Orchestra Victoria, tours in February. Cat Power, Alabama Shakes and Neil Young are also due. And now there's no excuse not to be familiar with their newest album.

Probably could have included Gary Clark Jr & Kanye West albums.Both well & truly worthy of a spot.

Commenter

Adam

Location

here and there

Date and time

December 28, 2012, 11:17PM

Psychedelic Pill over Americana?? Seriously?

Commenter

Steve C

Location

Mexico

Date and time

December 29, 2012, 11:54PM

Rogers sings Rogerstein; Tim Rogers - hands down winner this year for me.

Commenter

hyperswivel

Location

Geelong

Date and time

December 30, 2012, 6:27AM

sometimes wish we were still in the 20th century.Today's new music is RUBBISH.

Commenter

C

Location

Date and time

December 31, 2012, 12:04AM

not much of the above makes too much sense to me, except springsteen and neil young, perhaps you need to be hanging with the indi crew to make sense of that list. Obviously you didnt catch elmo's awesome 2012 offering "elmo the musical" definitely top 3 releases this year